Short barrel 20ga build

[3toe]

I would like some feedback from some of you guys that know.  I have a Winchester 1300 XTR from my youth that I am looking at turning into a dedicated turkey gun.  It has a 28" barrel right now.   I am looking at cutting it down/re threaded and can't decide on what length.  From what I have read the barrel length will not matter if using the proper choke.  This sounds right to me.  My current 12ga set up is a 1300 short turkey with an 18" barrel and it's a killing machine.   I am thinking of cutting this 20ga to 18" and matching it with the 12 but not sure yet that will get me the results I am looking for.  Might need to stay at 20 or 21"?

Thanks for any ideas or feedback. 

[killdee]

Give William at Sumtoy a pm or facebook him, I'm sure he has some 1300 experience. 18" sounds a bit shy to me, my NWTF 12 gauge 1300 is 21". I dont think Id want to go any shorter than that with a 20. Theres a lot of info on the 20 gauge 870s with some getting great patterns from 21" and others preferring 24-26".

[R AJ]

21" is as low as I would dream of going on the 20 gauge for weight distribution and sight alignment. This length has done well in many youth sizes, esp. 870 20 ga.

[mohall64]

My 1100 youth is 21 inch and it is as short as I would like for the reasons Killdee has states over.

[ncturkey]

I have a Remington 870 with a 20" barrel and is about as short has I would want too go. My short barreled turkey gun with the right load and choke are deadly on turkeys. I have had great results with lead loads and Hevi 13.